Create and Manage Partitions in the Workspace Database (SSAS Tabular)
Partitions divide a table into logical parts. Each partition can then be processed (Refreshed) independently or in parallel with other partitions. Partitions can improve scalability and manageability of large databases. By default, each table has one partition that includes all columns. Tasks in this topic describe how to create and manage partitions in the model workspace database by using the Partition Manager dialog box in SQL Server Data Tools
After a model has been deployed to another Analysis Services instance, database administrators can create and manage partitions in the (deployed) model by using SQL Server Management Studio. For more information, see Create and Manage Tabular Model Partitions (SSAS Tabular).
This topic includes the following tasks:
To create a new partition
To copy a partition
To delete a partition
Note
You cannot merge partitions in the model workspace database by using the Partition Manager dialog box. Partitions can be merged in a deployed model only by using SQL Server Management Studio.
Tasks
To create and manage partitions, you will use the Partitions Manager dialog box. To view the Partitions Manager dialog box, in SQL Server Data Tools, click the Table menu, and then click Partitions.
To create a new partition
In the model designer, select the table for which you want to define a partition.
Click on the Table menu, and then click Partitions.
In Partition Manager, in the Table listbox, verify or select the table you want to partition, and then click New.
In Partition Name, type a name for the partition. By default, the name of the default partition will be incrementally numbered for each new partition.
You can select the rows and columns to be included in the partition by using Table Preview mode or by using a SQL query created using Query Editor mode.
To use Table Preview mode (default), click the Table Preview button near the upper-right corner of the preview window. Select the columns you want to include in the partition by selecting the checkbox next to the column name. To filter rows, right click a cell value, and click Filter by Selected Cell Value.
To use a SQL statement, click the Query Editor button near the upper-right corner of the preview window, then type or paste a SQL query statement into the query window. To validate your statement, click Validate. To use the Query Designer, click Design.
To copy a partition
In Partition Manager, in the Table listbox, verify or select the table that contains the partition you want to copy.
In the Partitions list, select the partition you want to copy and then click Copy.
In Partition Name, type a new name for the partition.
To delete a partition
In Partition Manager, in the Table listbox, verify or select the table that contains the partition you want to delete.
In the Partitions list, select the partition you want to delete and then click Delete.